The lively sound of heels echoed in the lobby.
“Good morning.”
The gate where numerous employees passed by.
Among the busy people, one person greeted Nolan.
It was Alice Wesley, who worked in the secretary’s office of Mobid Holdings.
“Hello, Secretary Alice.” Nolan responded brightly to Alice’s greeting.
Mobid Holdings, a leading conglomerate that one could only enter after overcoming tremendous competition.
Perhaps because it was a place where busy talents gathered to do their own work, there were only a handful of employees who greeted Nolan, who was guarding the gate.
Among them, Alice stood out.
With a pleasant voice, making eye contact, and even a light nod.
Alice’s greeting was genuinely filled with respect and warmth.
At first, Nolan was taken aback, but now starting his day with Alice’s greeting had become a part of his routine.
Nolan turned his head and looked at Alice, who was standing in front of the elevator after passing through the gate.
Seeing Alice, who had a warm heart that respected others, naturally brought a pleasant smile to his face.
She was a rare employee who exuded humanity.
However, soon after, a wrinkle formed on Nolan’s forehead as he looked at Alice.
Although Alice knew how to respect others, it seemed she was not respected by others in return.
Employees waiting for the elevator alongside Alice began to whisper and glance at her one by one. Nolan knew what they were saying.
‘Secretary Alice is strangely unlikable…’
‘It’s amazing how she became the vice president’s secretary with that appearance.’
Nolan recalled the gossip he had occasionally heard from passing employees about Alice and brought his wandering gaze back to her.
At first glance, Alice seemed to have a stronger exterior than interior.
Her curly bob cut with bangs that fell to her eyebrows. Freckles scattered all over her nose, and the thick-rimmed glasses perched on her face, along with a rather large mole next to her lip and her lifeless lips. Her eyes, which looked small and dull, and her long-sleeved blouse and pants that covered her figure completely.
Even Nolan, who had no interest in young women, sometimes thought, ‘This young lady doesn’t know how to dress up.’
The employees of Mobid Holdings would often laugh at Alice’s appearance, finding it ridiculous.
Despite the lovely feelings he had, he could only feel pity for Alice, who was called an ugly secretary.
****
Today, the elevator seemed to be moving slower than a turtle’s crawl.
Having woken up later than usual, he had to catch a taxi, but the roads were already congested.
As a result, Alice could only stare blankly at the decreasing numbers on the elevator display.
Whispers filled the air.
Standing there in a daze, she heard the murmurs around her.
Alice unconsciously turned her head.
‘Here we go again.’
It seemed they never got tired of gossiping about others.
Without knowing the circumstances of others.
Alice had long since become accustomed to such situations.
Once gossip about her appearance started, it never seemed to end.
‘Isn’t the secretary supposed to reflect the face of her boss? If she’s ugly, shouldn’t she at least wear some makeup or disguise herself?’
‘Her outfit… maybe it looks shabby because she wears oversized clothes. Someone should tell her to wear clothes that fit.’
Alice numbly refocused on the display.
It had been years since she had experienced such an environment. She had already learned that not engaging was beneficial for her mental health.
There was no reason to feel intimidated or shaken.
Showing a timid demeanor in response to their disorganized words would only thicken the arrows aimed at her.
Ding-.
As the elevator arrived, employees began to step in one by one. The first to step in, Alice was pushed to the corner by the crowd.
“Hello, Vice President.”
As the elevator filled up, a tall man entered, and all the employees lowered their heads and made their way.
It was Ryan Iglis, the grandson of Lincon Iglis, the founder of Mobid Group of Companies, and the only heir to Mobid Group of Companies.
With neatly styled hair parted, sharp and cold eyes beneath prominent eyebrows, a straight nose in the center of his face, and tightly pressed lips.
This man, who drew attention wherever he went, was a rare young executive that Alice currently served.
As Ryan entered, the atmosphere in the elevator changed dramatically.
The cheeks of the female employees looking at Ryan turned rosy, as if they had been brushed with peach.
A natural-born talent from a prestigious university in New York, with a handsome face and a perfectly fitted suit that showcased his lean muscles, and the ability he had proven by dramatically improving the brand reputation since becoming the vice president of Mobid Holdings.
Ryan was the kind of man who fit every aspect of the prince that women dreamed of. There were even jokes that he was a being born from a moment of divine madness.
Thus, Ryan’s romantic life was the greatest concern of all the female employees at Mobid Holdings.
The female employees speculated, ‘The woman who wins Ryan Iglis will have saved a country in her past life,’ and ‘Surely, she must be a chaebol heiress worthy of Ryan.’
Except for Alice.
Of course, part of it was because Alice had no interest in the opposite s*x, but there was another reason.
Having worked as Ryan Iglis’s secretary for three years, Alice knew that even the seemingly perfect Ryan had one significant flaw.
His boss was extremely picky. Moreover, he detested having anyone else’s touch on his body.
She had seen his expression contort as if he had seen a bug even with just a brush.
It was as if he could not tolerate anything touching his precious body.
Ah, he thinks everyone else is a bug except for himself. He was a man who made one think that just by being around him.
On particularly exhausting days, she wanted to shout to the female employees praising him for his handsome looks and background, revealing his true nature.
While Alice was lost in thought, the employees got off at their respective floors.
Looking around, only Ryan and Alice remained in the elevator.
